RALEIGH, N.C. — Lorenzo Charles, the forward whose last-second dunk gave underdog North Carolina State a stunning victory in the 1983 national college championship game, was killed Monday when a bus he was driving crashed along a highway, a company official said.
Elite Coach general manager Brad Jackson said Charles, 47, worked for the company and was driving one of its buses on Interstate 40. No passengers were aboard.
Charles grabbed Dereck Whittenburg‘s 30-foot shot and dunked it at the buzzer to give the Wolfpack a 54-52 triumph over heavy favorite Houston and its second national title, sending coach Jim Valvano spilling onto the court, scrambling for someone to hug in what has become one of the lasting images of the NCAA Tournament.
“It’s just an awful day,” Whittenburg said. “An awful, awful day.”
Charles played one season in the NBA, averaging 3.4 points in 36 games with the Atlanta Hawks in 1985-86.
• The University of Kentucky gave basketball coach John Calipari an extension that makes his contract worth $36.5 million and will keep him coaching the Wildcats through 2019.
• The NCAA tournament’s opening round will stay in Dayton, Ohio, through the 2013 season.
Malkin “probably ready to go”
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Penguins star center Evgeni Malkin “probably is already ready to go” for the start of next season following recovery from torn ligaments in his right knee, Pittsburgh coach Dan Bylsma said.
Bylsma also said forward Sidney Crosby (concussion) has been cleared by doctors for twice-per-day, off-ice workouts, just as he normally would at this point of the offseason.
• A person close to the situation said Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer is out as a potential buyer of the financially troubled Phoenix Coyotes after failing to reach a lease agreement with the city of Glendale, Ariz. NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said there are others in line to try to buy the team.
• The Vancouver Canucks signed defenseman Kevin Bieksa to a five-year, $23 million extension.
• The Chicago Blackhawks traded forward Tomas Kopecky to the Florida Panthers for a seventh- round draft pick in 2012 or 2013.
• The Philadelphia Flyers signed right wing Andreas Nodl and left wing Tom Sestito to contract extensions, and acquired a third- round draft choice next season from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for center Darroll Powe.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning signed defenseman Bruno Gervais to a one-year contract.
Footnotes.
Miami Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder said college players should be able to sell their game jerseys — something he “hypothetically” did when he played for the Florida Gators.
• D.C. United acquired playmaker Dwayne De Rosario from the New York Red Bulls in exchange for midfielder Dax McCarty.
• Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland rose to third in the world golf rankings after his triumph at the U.S. Open. Englishmen Luke Donald and Lee Westwood are Nos. 1 and 2.
The Associated Press
